College of Arts, Education, and Humanities
Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing and Publishing
DeSales University’s MFA in Creative Writing and Publishing offers residencies in both the U.S. and Europe, along with personalized mentorship and comprehensive manuscript development. This program is designed to prepare you for successful careers in writing, editing, and publishing and provide valuable connections and opportunities in the writing world.
Program Details
- Official Degree Name
- Master of Fine Arts
- Format
-
Online
- Credit Hours
- 36
- Program Start
- Start Anytime
- Application Deadline
- Apply Anytime
- Average Time to Degree
- 1-3 Years
Why Choose an MFA at DeSales University?
In the DeSales MFA program, you’ll benefit from an online format that offers personalized mentorship and insights from supportive faculty and renowned visiting writers. Throughout the program, you’ll work on a book-length project and engage in extensive reading tailored to your chosen genre.
Program Highlights
Multiple Pathways to Success
- With the DeSales MFA program, you have flexible options, including both a single master’s degree option for applicants with a bachelor’s degree and a dual degree pathway for current undergraduate students at DeSales. If you’re an eligible undergraduate, you can apply for our unique dual degree program and earn both a bachelor’s and master’s degree within five years.
Editing and Publishing Opportunities
- In our MFA in Creative Writing program, you’ll benefit from personalized mentorship and gain insights from experienced visiting writers toward the goal of publishing your work. This support will help you refine your craft and navigate the publishing field more effectively.
An Investment in Art and the Life of the Mind
- Our program teaches students the discipline necessary to be artists, “the habit of art” as Flannery O’Connor called it. It is a calling for those who wish to answer the age-old question posed by essayist Michel de Montaigne: “Que sais-je?” or “what do I know?” We answer it in our work by paying better attention to the world, each other, and ourselves and capturing that attention on the page. Such a discipline can lead to diverse careers in writing, teaching, publishing and many other fields. To paraphrase Walt Whitman, you will be large and contain multitudes!
What Will You Study?
All MFA students must complete four intensive residencies (two on campus and two abroad) and four workshop semesters with writing mentors.
Through the DeSales MFA in Creative Writing, you'll develop advanced skills in creative writing with an emphasis on the importance of writing about place as well as writing in the spirit. The program features immersive residencies in both the U.S. and Europe, offering you unique opportunities to learn from acclaimed writers, teachers, and publishing professionals.
Courses you may take include:
- MFA Residency in Ireland, Scotland, or Canada
- Workshop in Prose or Poetry
- Thesis Semester
MFA Faculty Members
Outcomes & Careers
With a DeSales MFA, you can:
- teach full-time in university or secondary school creative writing programs.
- write for magazines, publishing companies, university presses, and other small presses.
- work as writers, editors, copy editors and proofreaders in the publishing, not-for-profit, government, and video game-designing fields.
- manage independent and subject-specific bookstores.
Admission Requirements
- A completed bachelor’s degree from an accredited American university.
- Official transcripts and transcript evaluation.
- Personal statement that addresses three questions. 1. What writers or writing experiences have led you to this degree? 2. Why do you want to enroll in this MFA program? 3. What kind of book-length project do you think you want to write while in the program?
- Either a 20-page writing sample of prose (short story/stories/novel, chapter/essays/memoir) or a 10-page sample of poetry.
- Undergraduate students who wish to undertake the dual degree program will need to be in good academic standing and consult their academic advisor.
Program FAQs
We accept admissions on a rolling basis, so enrollment for the DeSales MFA program is always open.
Yes. The MFA program is available online, with four required in-person residencies, one in the Lehigh Valley and one in Celtic Europe or Canada.
All residencies include writing workshops, sessions with visiting writers, publishers and publishing professionals, and field trips to literary destinations.
